£78,000 Credit Card DEbt

Seaxwyn

Hi Sensible, I followed that link too nd was pretty shocked at the tone.

I bet all those people are brilliant with money but have some major other defect in their lives so it makes them feel better having a go at nice, normal people.

Bagpuss1973

Hi Sensible77

Just a thought to help you keep on track with your spending on groceries, do a meal planner for each week and then do a shopping list - you really do only buy what you need then and look at the old style boards for ideas of cheap but good food to eat. We have many smartprice items from Asda - on the whole they are pretty good and just as good as the "main" brands - Lidl and Aldi are also good for bargains if you've got them near you.

Just wondered, you might hate this idea - but could you get a lodger? You said you no longer have dependent children at home so could someone else use their room and pay rent which would help pay your bills.

Bagpussx

hypno06

Hi Sensible, just catching up with this thread.

Have you tried playing around with the snowball calculator? I find it invaluable in working out where I am "heading" next and of course it gives me that all important debt free date.

https://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx

Put all the ccs and loans in there with their APRs and the amounts you are paying each month. If nothing else, it is giving you something else to compare all your other options with.

You seem to have made a positive start. Stay strong x

Sensible77

Been to Asda this morning. Managed to keep the bill below £20 again. It may be a minor saving in the great scheme of things, but it helps to keep us both focussed. Have also looked at the snowball. The weather forecast for this Sunday is good so expecting to do well at the car boot sale. I used to make and repair computers years ago so will look at that again now. I’ve found loads of computer bits at home that I didn’t even know I still had. I can almost make up a complete computer with them. In the past I used to get paid in kind, (mainly did it for friends etc.), but it will be cash only now!

Sensible77

Made £200 at the car boot sale and still had stuiff left over for another one. Due to the tremendous support from my wife, we are both ih a positive frame of mind about getting through this. Payplan have advised an IVA - still undecided between that or a DMP, though.

roxy7699

Wow well done at the car boot sale. I think the computer idea is a good one too.

Aj_eye

This world if full of people ready and waiting to bring you down..... Even if you had no debt the chumps on the other site will still find something to say.....

So in the imortal words of Monty Python ......"I Fart in Their General Direction"

hypno06

The good thing is that you are BOTH in a positive frame of mind about this and that will make the world of difference, whichever option you eventually start to take.

And of course, in the meantime, you are learning the "real" value of things and learning the good habits that will take you forward.

You are doing well so far, keep up the good work and enjoy the sunshine while you are at it!

angelavdavis

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum and it sounds like you are really starting on the right foot getting things sorted.

One suggestion that was made early in the thread was whether you had phoned the credit card companies and asked for a reduction in the rate as they are all hideously high. I have done this in the past - pretending that I am on the verge of transferring the balance elsewhere to another company - and got a reduction and it doesn't cost you anything except the phone call.

As you have had little luck getting 0% cards, it might be worth a go - they can only say no.

Good luck

Sensible77

Thanks for the positive feedback. After some earlier posts I was reluctant to continue to post but I've found most people very helpful and would like to think that my posts also help.